Magnetic cigarette and support therefor



11h 9 194% H. s. WILLIAMS 2,192,569

MAGNETIC CIGARETTE AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Sept. 5, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l jrkrold sill/z Jh'zzzm H. S. WILLIAMS MAGNETIC CIGARETTE AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Sept. 3, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Harold Silva Williams, Oak Park, Ill.

Application September 9 Claims.

My invention pertains to magnetic cigarettes and supports therefor and to other smokers articles of like nature.

With present cigarettes and supports, the cigl arette is held on the support or ash tray solely by the force of gravity and is easily displaced by the slightest jar. Furthermore, the cigarette is frequently displaced by the redistribution of weight caused by the consuming action of the fire. Such displacement of the cigarette from its ash tray or other support frequently results in damage to tablecloths, furniture, carpets and clothing, and occasionally results in disastrous and costly fires. The foregoing disadvantage is not confined to cigarettes and supports therefor but also applies to other smokable articles such as cigars and pipes and their supports.

An object of my invention is to provide magnetic means for holding a cigarette or other smokable article upon its support so that it will not be displaced therefrom by jarring or the redistribution of weight resulting from the consuming action of the fire.

Another object is to provide my novel magnetic means in such form that it may either be made a unitary part of newly manufactured smokable articles and supports therefor or may be applied to present smokable articles and their supports.

Another object is to provide my novel magnetic means in such form that it may be conveniently and economically applied to smokable articles and supports therefor.

Another object is to provide my novel magnetic means in such form that it will tend to put out the fire of a lighted cigarette or cigar when the fire has consumed the cigarette or cigar to a predetermined degree.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a typical example of a magnetic cigarette and support therefor, embodying my invention;

Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, '7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 show various ways of applying my invention to a cigarette;

Figure 13 shows my invention applied to a cigar;

Figure 14 shows a holder for a cigar or cigarette having my invention applied thereto;

Figure 15 shows a pipe and pipe holder embodying my invention;

Figures 16, 1'7 and 18 show various types of holders embodying my invention; and

Figure 19 shows a different way of applying my invention to a cigarette.

3, 1936, Serial No. 99,202

Referring to the drawings, I have shown in Figure 1 a conventional cigarette 20 having a band 22 of magnetizable material surrounding the cigarette adjacent the butt end thereof. The support is in the form of an ash tray compris- 5 ing a dish 24 for receiving the ashes dropped from the cigarette, and a, U-shaped, permanent magnet 26 upon which the cigarette rests. The magnetizable band 22 attached to the cigarette is attracted by the magnet 26, and this attraction firmly holds the cigarette on its magnetic support so that the cigarette will not be displaced by jarring or other shocks.

It is to be understood that the form of support for the cigarette which is shown in Figure 1 is illustrative only, and that this support may assume any desired shape and form and may be of any suitable material. I have found that a U-shaped magnet gives particularly good results, but my invention is not limited to such a 20 U-shaped magnet, and any other suitable form of magnet, either the permanent or electric type, may be utilized as desired. The band 22 surrounding the cigarette may have any desired configuration and may have any desired trade-mark, 95 wording or design lithographed, etched, printed or otherwise applied thereto.

In Figure 2 of the drawings, I have illustrated more clearly the cigarette shown in Figure 1. This cigarette is of the conventional type com- 30 prising the tobacco 28 enclosed within the usual wrapper 30. The band 22 may be applied to the cigarette at the factory during the process of manufacture or it may be sold as a separate article of commerce and applied to the cigarette by the user.

This band 22 is preferably spaced a short distance from the butt end of the cigarette in approximately the position shown in the drawing.

In this position of the band it does not come in 0 contact with the lips of the smoker. Because of the heat conducting qualities of the band 22, this band has a tendency to extinguish the cigarette when the fire reaches this band. This is a valuable additional characteristic of my invention since it materially reduces the fire hazard.

In Figure 3 I have shown a conventional cigarette 32 having a metallic band or ring 34 of magnetizable material formed by winding a piece of wire in the form of a coil. This magnetizable ring 34 may also be applied either at the factory or by the user and functions in the same manner as the band 22.

Figure 4 illustrates a conventional cigarette 36 to which a magnetlzable metallic band 38 is u indicated at -62.

applied at the factory and is located between the conventional cover 48 of cigarette paper and a tip 42 of cork or other suitable material, so that in the completed cigarette the band 38 is entirely concealed.

In Figure the magnetizable metallic band 44 is located beneath the usual cigarette paper covering 46. In this form of my invention the magnetizable band 44 directly surrounds a portion of the tobacco 41 with which the cover 48 is filled. It is to be understood that when the magnetizable band is thus located in intimate contact with the tobacco, the band is made of such material that it will not react with the tobacco, or the magnetizable material itself may be coated with a material which is inert to'the tobacco.

Figure 6 shows a cigarette 48 having a magnetizable ring 58 formed of coiled wire like the ring 34, but located beneath the cigarette wrapper 52 adjacent the butt end of the cigarette. Except for the structure of the magnetizable ring, this cigarette is identical with that shown in Figure 5.

The cigarette 54,.of Figure 7, has a magnetizable ring 58 located within the cigarette wrapper 58 and surrounding aplug 88 of filtering material located in the butt end of the wrapper 58. The

rest of the wrapper 58 is filled with tobacco, as The magnetizable band 58 in this form of my invention is formed by bending a piece of wire into a zigzag formation which in turn is bent in the form of a loop. Filtering plugs of the kind indicated at 88 are becoming increasingly popular and may be provided in any of the other forms of cigarettes which I have illustrated, it being simply a matter of choice as to whether the entire wrapper is filled with tobacco or Whether part of the wrapper'is filled with such a filtering plug. I

In Figure 8, I have illustrated a form of my in- -vention in which the cigarette 64 is provided with a wire screen 68 of magnetizable material located within the wrapper 88 adjacent the butt end of the cigarette. I

Figure 9 shows a cigarette 18 having its butt end surrounded by a layer I2 of cork, straw, gold or silver paper, or other material commonly used to surround the butt end'of a cigarette. Folded around one edge of this layer I2 is a flexible sheet 14 of magnetizable material.

In Figure 10, I have illustrated a cigarette 18 having the butt end of the interior of the wrapper I8 coated with particles 88 of magnetizable material.

In that form of my invention shown in Figure 11, the butt end of the cigarette 82 is surrounded by a 0 ring 84 which may constitute a permanent magnet, so that when the cigarette is laid upon a support or ash tray of magnetizable material, the cigarette will be magnetically attracted thereto. Instead of making a permanent magnet out.

of the o ring 84, this 0 ring may be made of unmagnetized but magnetizable material like that used in forming the band 22 of the cigarette 28. Where the magnet is applied to the cigarette, it is, of course, unnecessary that the support include a permanent magnet, it being sufilcient that the support be. partly or wholly formed of magnetizable material.

In Figure 12, I have shown a cigarette 88 in which the magnetizable material is applied thereto in the form of a rod 88 inserted in the butt end of a cigarette; and in Figure 19, I have shown a cigarette 88 having a magnetizable plate there is secured a magnetizable band 88.

82 attached to the side of the cigarette cover and adjacent the butt end of the cigarette.

Referring to Figure 13, I have shown my invention as applied to a cigar 84, about which This band 88 may have any suitable trade-mark or trade name thereon and may thereby take the place 01 the usual paper cigar band.

Figure 14 shows a holder 88 for a cigar or cigarette to which a magnetizable band I88 has been applied. This band I88 is preferably located remote from the end of the holder which is placed in the mouth, as indicated in the drawings, since this location is more nearly the center of gravity of the complete smokable article comprising the holder and cigar or cigarette carried therein.

In Figure 15 I have illustrated my invention as applied to a pipe and pipe support. This figure shows a pipe I82 having a stem I84 encircling which is a magnetizable band I88. The support I88 comprises a base H8 and upright back II2 carrying a U-shaped magnet II4 .which attracts the band I88 so that the pipe is retained In the position shown in the drawings even when the pipe and its support are subjected to Jars and shocks.

I Figure 16 discloses a support in the form of an ash tray H8 made of iron or other suitable magnetizable material. Supported on this ash tray II8 I have shown a cigarette" provided with a magnetic o ring 84 which creates a magnetic attraction between the cigarette and the support and prevents displacement of the cigarette therefrom.

Many ash trays and other supports are made of non-magnetizable material and, in order to apply my invention thereto, it is only necessary to attach a piece of magnetizable material thereto in any suitable and convenient manner. In Figure 16 I have shown a U-shaped piece or magnetizable material I I8 attached to the ash tray II8 by a spring clip I28. It the ash tray is to be used with cigarettes having magnetic rings, like the cigarette 82, the U-shaped member II8 need not be permanently magnetized. However, this U-shaped piece II8 should be permanently magnetized if it is to be used with cigarettes like those shown in Figures 1 to 18, inclusive. In some cases it may be desirable to attach nonmagnetic but magnetizable material to an ash tray or other support and also to attach magnets thereto by clips I 28 or other suitable means. The non-magnetic and magnetic pieces of material may be given diiferent configurations so that they can be easily distinguished, thereby adapting the same support for use with all kinds of cigarettes.

I have shown, in Figure 17, a U-shaped piece of magnetizable material I22 bolted to a rubber suction cup I24, whereby it may be attached to the bottom of an ash tray or other support for a cigar or cigarette. A metal shield I28 protects the rubber cup I24 from such hot ashes as may fall from the cigar or cigarette. The magnetizable material I22 may be permanently magnetized or not, as desired.

A slightly diiferent type of support for a'cigar or cigarette is shown in Figure 18, wherein a U- shaped magnet I28 and metal plate I 28 are attached to a wall I88 by a screw I32. The plate I28 has a tray portion I34 which receives the ashes dropped from the cigar or cigarette resting upon the magnet I28.

It will, of course, be appreciated that the mag- 'aieasce netizable material may be iron, cobalt, nickel or other alloy thereof, or any other material which responds to magnetic influence. Where the particular part is to be permanently magnetized, the material selected for that part should be of such a nature that it will retain its magnetism over a long period of time. In general, I have found it to be sufiicient to make only one element of the combination in the form of a permanent magnet, that is, either the smokable article or its support includes a permanent magnet which attracts magnetizable material associated with the other part. However, both the smokable article and its support may be provided with permanent magnets which are so arranged as to attract each other.

The various forms of my invention which I have shown in the drawings are illustrative only, as my invention may assume numerous other forms. The scope of my invention, therefore, is not limited to the forms shown but is limited solely by the wording of the claims themselves.

In the claims and in this specification the term smoking article is used to describe a pipe, cigar or cigarette, or the combination of a cigar or cigarette with a holder in which it is held while being smoked. It will be understood that if it should be desired to use the snuiiing feature of my invention without the magnetic feature, the band 22 or other form may be made of copper, brass or other non-magnetizable material.

I claim:

1. A magnet for use as a support and stabilizer for a smoking article when said smoking article is not in a smokers mouth, consisting of a section adapted to be held in supporting relation with respect to a stationary object and another section having a portion of less than half the length of an article to be smoked, which portion mainly by its magnetizable characteristics is adapted to maintain thereon a smoking article having magnetizable material as a part thereof.

2. A magnet for use as a support and stabilizer for a cigarette when said cigarette is not in a smoker's mouth, consisting of a section adapted to be held in supporting relation with respect to a stationary object and another section having a portion of less than half the length of the cigarette, which portion mainly by its magnetizable characteristics is adapted to maintain a cigarette having magnetizable material as a part thereof thereon.

3. A U-shaped magnet for use as a support and stabilizer for a smoking article when said smoking article is not in a smokers mouth, consisting of a central section adapted to be held in supporting relation with respect to a stationary object and free ends of less than half the length of an article to be smoked, which ends mainly by their magnetizable characteristics are adapted to maintain thereon a smoking article having magnetizable material as a part thereof.

4. A rest adapted to be used with a smoking article having as a part thereof some magnetizable material comprising a magnet serving as a support and stabilizer for the smoking article when said article is not in a smokers mouth, said magnet consisting of :a section adapted to ba held in supporting relation with respect to a stationary object and another section having a portion of less than half the length of the smoking article which portion mainly by its magnetizable characteristic is adapted to maintain said article thereon.

5. A rest for a smoking article, said rest consisting of a U-shaped magnet and means for securing the magnet to an ash tray, the legs of the U being so spaced at their free ends that a smoking article placed therein for support thereon will have a portion thereof lying within the space and disposed below the upper edges of the free upper ends when said legs are maintained substantially vertical relative to the bottom of the ash tray, the magnetizable characteristics of the rest constituting means to maintain a smoking article having a magnetizable material on the rest irrespective of the distance that the lighted end of the article may be to that portion of the article in contact with the legs, said legs being adapted to maintain the article in held position thereon in other inclined positions of the legs with respect to the horizon.

6. A cigarette rest for detachable connection to an ash tray consisting of a U-shaped magnet and means for securing the magnet to the ash tray, the legs of the U being so spaced at their free ends that a cigarette placed therein for support thereon will have a portion thereof lying within the space and disposed below the upper edges of the free upper ends when said legs are maintained substantially vertical relative to the bottom of the ash tray, the magnetizable characteristics of the rest constituting means to maintain a cigarette having magnetizable material on the rest irrespective of the distance that the lighted end of the cigarette may be to that portion of the cigarette in contact with the legs, said legs being adapted to maintain the cigarette in held position thereon in other inclined positions of the legs with respect to the horizon.

'7. The combination of a smoking article having as a part thereof some magnetizable material and a rest comprising a part of magnetizable material serving as a support and stabilizer for the smoking article, one of said parts being magnetized, said rest consisting of a section adapted to be held in supporting relation with respect to a stationary object and a magnetizable section having a portion of less than half the length of the smoking article which latter portion mainly by its magnetizable characteristic is adapted to maintain said article thereon.

8. The combination of a smoking article having as a part thereof some magnetizable material and a rest comprising a magnet serving as a support and stabilizer for the smoking article, said magnet consisting of a section adapted to be held in supporting relation with respect to a stationary object and another section having a portion of less than half the length of the smoking article which latter portion mainly by its magnetizable characteristic is adapted to maintain said article thereon.

9. The combination of a cigarette having as a part thereof some magnetizable materialand a rest comprising a magnet serving as a support and stabilizer for the cigarette, said magnet consisting of a section adapted to be held in supporting relation with respect to a stationary object and another section having a portion'of less than half the length of the cigarette which latter portion mainly by its magnetizable characteristic is adapted to maintain said cigarette thereon.

HAROLD SILVA WILLIAMS. 

